Selectmen candidates have heated debate

Friday

Feb 24, 2012 at 2:00 AM

HAMPTON — Candidates running for the two contested seats on the Board of Selectmen sparred over whether the town should keep its in-house legal department, the two-fire station proposal, and whether to offer a contract extension to Town Manager Fred Welch.

Patrick Cronin

HAMPTON — Candidates running for the two contested seats on the Board of Selectmen sparred over whether the town should keep its in-house legal department, the two-fire station proposal, and whether to offer a contract extension to Town Manager Fred Welch.

All three issues came up during Wednesday night's selectmen debate sponsored by the Hampton Union.

Wednesday night, candidates Philip Bean, Dustin Marzinzik and Mary-Louise Woolsey all said they support Welch. Incumbent Selectman Jerry Znoj, who also participated in the debate, has voted against renewing Welch's contract.

Ben Moore, a selectman candidate who did not participate in the debate due to a previously scheduled vacation, has been a vocal supporter of Welch, making it one of the focal points of his campaign.

With selectmen divided over his future at Town Hall, Welch was given a three-month contract extension that keeps him on the job until June. After the March 13 election, selectmen will decide whether Welch keeps his job.

Znoj, along with Selectman Mike Pierce, voted against renewing Welch's contract, while Selectmen Rick Griffin and Bill Lally voted in favor of keeping him onboard. Selectmen Chairman Richard Nichols abstained from the town manager vote, stating he was interested in the town manager's job.

Woolsey, who is the vice chairman on the Budget Committee, said she not only supports Welch, but also thinks the board's treatment of Welch was "grossly unfair" and questioned the current Board of Selectmen's ethics.

"I think it's time for the board to manage the manager and not sneak behind his back and try to take his job," said Woolsey, referring to Nichols' abstention.

"I have no intention in running (for selectmen) to be the manager."

Znoj defended the board's actions and his initial vote not to renew Welch's contract.

"I take exception to Woolsey's comments. There was no violation of ethics here," Znoj said. "Not once did any member of this board try to undermine Mr. Welch."

Znoj said his decision came down to a review of Welch's performance.

"We have a level of expectations, goals and missions of that function, and he understood them," he said. "When it came down to measure one's achievement of that level of performance, we had stark differences on the board."

Woolsey did not back down.

"It's difficult to understand how an individual can be expected to work up to his performance level when he knows shenanigans are going on behind his back," she said.

Znoj and Woolsey also exchanged jabs during discussion of her petition warrant article to eliminate the in-house legal department, essentially firing town attorneys Mark Gearreald and Wanda Robertson.

"I'm estimating if we eliminate this department as this article suggests, it will cost us three times in legal fees," said Znoj, who noted in addition to legal issues the department has now taken on the role of human resources for the town.

But Woolsey defended her petition warrant article, saying it's not cost-effective to have two full-time attorneys.

"We spend $200,000 a year on salaries and benefits for two attorneys," Woolsey said.

Bean said residents have a right to question the legal department budget and maybe the answer is just having one-full time attorney and a paralegal.

"When (Robinson) passed the bar in New Hampshire, we took her on full time," Znoj said. "We did not pay one dollar more for her services. She received no pay increase. We gave her fringe benefits with the goal that outside legal costs would decrease accordingly."

All four candidates said they see the need for a new substation at Hampton Beach and an addition to the Winnacunnet Road facility.

Three of the four said they prefer the fire chief's original $7.5 million plan that was defeated by voters in 2011, rather than the scaled-down fire stations plan pushed by selectmen.

Marzinzik said the fact two selectmen didn't support the $7.5 million plan in 2011 was a disgrace, especially after $50,000 was spent on those plans.

"I think it was a waste of taxpayers' money," said Marzinzik, who said the town needs to re-establish a real Capital Improvement Program.

"I absolutely opposed this article that has been cobbled together by civilians who have no idea of building emergency facilities," Woolsey said. "Go back to the chief's original plan."

Znoj said the problem with the $7.5 million plan was that voters rejected it.

"(This plan is) cost-effective and it's a good value for the taxpayer," Znoj said.

As for the Capital Improvement Program, Znoj agreed improvements need to be made saying it has become more of a wish list.

"Right now it's just a bunch of wishes," Znoj said. "We are going to make sure what is in the plan for 2014, 2015 and 2016 is a real need and it has its tax impact (clearly known).

All four candidates said they support the union contracts on the ballot and the continued revitalization of Hampton Beach.

The debate was led by Town Moderator Bob Casassa. Questions were posed to the candidates by Hampton Union editor Glenn Sabalewski.

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